Journeying in faith Together
visit a diocesan shrine
Based at the Parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Great Billing
our lady of perpetual succour
The focus of the shrine is one of the few authenticated handcrafted copies of the original icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour at St Alphonsus church, Via Merulana, Rome. The inscription on the back testifies that it is number 533 of the special edition of almost 1000 that were first handcrafted and painted from the original. It is certified as such by Fr Mauron and crowned and blessed by Pope Pius IX’s successor, Pope Leo XIII.
The Icon was acquired by a member of the Elwes family (notable local converts) in 1878. The actual details are not known but the Icon was originally exhibited in the Elwes’ own chapel at Billing Hall before being donated to the new church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (the church itself being a gift of the Elwes family). Some years ago now, the Redemptorists led a parish retreat. When they learned of the history of the Icon they pointed out that where there were other handcrafted copies of the original, such places were all dedicated shrines. This then was the impetus we needed. We are also highly indebted to Bishop Peter Doyle (now Emeritus) who signed the decree on 8th September 2006 before going to Italy. In a congratulatory message read out by the Dean of Northampton, Mgr Anthony McDermott, he wrote: “Through the prayers of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, may God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, console and strengthen all who come to the shrine, give new life and hope to the Church in the Diocese of Northampton, and peace, joy and justice to the world”. Click here to visit the shrine website.
Based at the Church of The Holy Child and St Joseph in Bedford
our lady of guadalupe
The Shrine of the Relic Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe has its permanent home in the Diocese of Northampton.
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster formally handed over the Miraculous Relic Image to the care of Emeritus Bishop Peter Doyle in a ceremony at the Shrine in the Church of the Holy Child & St Joseph in Bedford, England on 29th September 2012.
Please visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the beautiful Holy Child & St Joseph Catholic Church, Bedford MK40 1HU. We are near Bedford train station and bus station. The Church is open every day in daylight hours.
To ensure the Miraculous Relic Image is on display the day you intend to visit, you may want to contact us and refer to the National Pilgrimage Tour itinerary. If you are a larger group and would like a special visit to be organised, once again, please do contact us.
The Shrine website can be visited here.
